Paramount & 20th Century Fox Debut 2006 Blu-ray Disc Titles
Paramount Pictures - LOS ANGELES, CA - Jan. 4, 2006 - Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment announced today its upcoming slate of "Paramount High Definition" titles for the launch of the new Blu-ray Disc format.
Among the titles to be released in conjunction with the Blu-ray hardware delivery to retail stores are recent hits such as "Four Brothers" and "Sahara," sci-fi thrillers "Aeon Flux" and "Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow," action-adventures "The Italian Job" and "Tomb Raider," the renowned music documentary "U2: Rattle and Hum" and Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow." The ten title launch slate also includes "We Were Soldiers" and "Manchurian Candidate" starring Academy Award(R) winners Mel Gibson and Denzel Washington, respectively.
Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment will continue its roll out of Blu-ray titles throughout 2006 and beyond, including the highly anticipated release of "Mission Impossible 3" alongside "Mission Impossible" and "Mission Impossible 2."
"Paramount is pleased to demonstrate its support for Blu-ray with these launch titles," said Thomas Lesinski, President, Paramount Pictures, Worldwide Home Entertainment. "We feel confident that the breadth and quality of the 'Paramount High Definition' line-up will provide consumers with a compelling home entertainment experience for years to come."
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment - BEVERLY HILLS, CA - Jan. 4, 2006
Continuing its unwavering support for the Blu-ray format, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment announced today the first wave of feature films to be released by the studio on the much-anticipated new Blu-ray Disc (BD) platform. The broad range of titles chosen will optimally demonstrate the next generation format's superior high-definition audio and visual elements. The initial titles in development include such action-packed blockbusters as FANTASTIC FOUR, THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, BEHIND ENEMY LINES and KISS OF THE DRAGON, the CGI-animated comedy ICE AGE along with many others that will bring Fox's total number of first wave releases to 20 titles. The company plans to debut its initial line-up of BD titles to coincide with the Blu-ray hardware launches in North America, Japan and Europe in 2006. Twentieth Century Fox will also plan simultaneous releases of its films on BD and DVD as the format takes hold and household penetration grows.
"Blu-ray is the superior high definition technology that fully delivers on the promise of a next generation format and represents the bright future of home entertainment," noted Mike Dunn, President Worldwide, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. "The release of our films on Blu-ray will provide consumers with in-home entertainment beyond anything they have imagined."
Fox's commitment to emerging technologies is dedicated to enhancing the consumer experience of its products and providing for backward compatibility with their existing home entertainment libraries while also aggressively protecting its intellectual property from piracy. The Blu-ray member companies fully embrace the Studio's steadfast commitment to the fight against piracy and the preservation of the integrity of its properties. Twentieth Century Fox joined the Board of Directors of the Blu-ray Disc Association in 2004 and remains an active contributor to the formats continuing development.
About the Blu-ray Disc Association
The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) is responsible for establishing format standards and promoting and further developing business opportunities for Blu-ray Disc -- the next-generation optical disc for storing high-definition movies, photos and other digital content. The BDA has more than 160 members. Its Board of Directors consists of Apple Computer, Inc.; Dell Inc.; Hewlett Packard Company; Hitachi, Ltd.; LG Electronics Inc.; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Panasonic (Matsushita Electric); Pioneer Corporation; Royal Philips Electronics; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Sharp Corporation; Sony Corporation; TDK Corporation; Thomson; Twentieth Century Fox; and Walt Disney Pictures and Television.
About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC
A recognized global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming on VHS and DVD as well as video acquisitions and original productions. Each year the Company introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets -- from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce -- throughout the world. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company.
About Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment
Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment is part of Paramount Pictures, a division of Viacom Inc., and is responsible for the worldwide sales, marketing, and distribution of home entertainment for Viacom including: Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and CBS. Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment is part of the entertainment operations of the new Viacom Inc., which also owns MTV Networks (MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Comedy Central, CMT: Country Music Television, Spike TV, TV Land and many other networks around the world), BET, Paramount Pictures and Famous Music.